Chapter 1 Key Concepts: Risk Factors, Etiology, Clinical Manifestations, and Prevention

Flashcards covering risk factors (modifiable vs nonmodifiable), TLC, comorbidity, etiology and pathogens, nosocomial and CAUTI/VAP, local vs systemic findings, leukocytes, and the subjective vs objective distinction, plus key prevention concepts.

What are risk factors?

Factors that make a person more susceptible to disease.

What is elevated cholesterol?

High levels of fats (lipids) in the blood.

What is hypertension?

Another term for high blood pressure.

Why is family history considered a risk factor?

If many relatives have early heart disease, you are at higher risk for similar disease.

What is obesity?

Excess body fat.

What are modifiable risk factors?

Factors that can be changed through therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLCs), such as diet, weight, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, stress, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

What are nonmodifiable risk factors?

Factors that cannot be changed: age, gender, race, and genetics.

What does TLC stand for?

Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes.

What does comorbidity mean?

Having multiple coexisting diseases that interact and increase mortality risk.

What is etiology in disease terms?

The precise cause of a disease.

What is a pathogen?

A disease-causing microorganism.

What does idiopathic mean?

Unknown cause of a disease.

What does nosocomial mean?

Hospital-acquired infection.

What does CAUTI stand for?

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (catheter-acquired infection).

What is VAP?

Ventilator-associated pneumonia.

What is local versus systemic in inflammation?

Local: directly at the site; systemic: affecting the whole body.

Can edema be local or systemic?

Yes. It can be local (injury) or systemic (fluid overload in conditions like heart or liver failure).

What are leukocytes?

White blood cells that rise during infection (leukocytosis when elevated).

What is the normal white blood cell (WBC) count range?

Approximately 5,000 to 10,000 per microliter.

What does leukocytosis indicate?

A higher-than-normal WBC count, usually indicating infection and a systemic response.

What is the difference between subjective and objective data in clinical assessment?

Subjective data come from what the patient says (symptoms); objective data are observable or measurable (signs).